Add Bates to list of potential Illinois ADs

Source says Illini have serious interest in man who helped rebuild football program at Miami (Ohio)

July 23, 2011|By Teddy Greenstein, Chicago Tribune reporter

Illinois is making progress in its search for an athletic director, and a new name has emerged as a strong candidate.

An industry source told the Tribune that the school has serious interest in Brad Bates, the athletic director from Miami (Ohio). Bates was a walk-on defensive back at Michigan under Bo Schembechler, has a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt and has helped rebuild a football program that last year won the Mid-American Conference.

Ron Guenther's last day at Illinois was June 30, but the school will not select a replacement until it names a new chancellor. That hire is expected "very shortly," according to Larry DeBrock, the head of Illinois' search committee.

DeBrock said of the AD vacancy: "We have lots and lots of candidates, but we're not moving to a shorter list until the president names the chancellor."

A source with ties to the school said viable candidates include Rick George, an Illinois alum who's chief operating officer of the Rangers; Illinois associate AD Tom Michael; South Florida AD Doug Woolard; Xavier AD Mike Bobinski, a Notre Dame alum who will serve as chair of the 2012-13 Division I Men's Basketball Committee; Craig Tiley, who led the Illini to an NCAA title in tennis and now serves as director of Tennis Australia; and Buffalo AD Warde Manuel.

Illinois also pursued alum Jim Phillips, but the Northwestern AD will sign an extension to stay in Evanston through 2020, according to sources.